Fort Duncan

Established on March 27, 1849, by Capt. Sidney Burbank with companies A, B, and F of the First U.S. Infantry, Fort Duncan was named for Col. James Duncan, a hero of the Mexican War. The fort served as a frontier outpost near the trail of California emigrants and as a base of operations against hostile Lipan Apache Indians. In 1851 it became the headquarters of the First Infantry, and by 1856 its garrison included units of Mounted Rifles and First Artillery. Abandoned in May 1859, it was regarrisoned in March 1860 because of border assaults by Juan N. Cortina. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the fort was again abandoned, then later occupied by Confederate forces as Rio Grande Station. In 1868 it was regarrisoned by the 9th Infantry and Headquarters Company of the 41st Infantry under Col. William R. Shafter. The Seminole-Negro Scouts, organized here on Aug. 16, 1870, played a large part in ridding western Texas of Indians. After 1883 the post declined in importance; known as Camp Eagle Pass, it was abandoned about 1900. Mexican border troubles in 1916 brought reoccupation, and its use as a training camp continued during World War I. In 1938 the fort property was purchased by the City of Eagle Pass for use as a park and recreation area.

Eagle Pass, Texas · United States